To get the Fourth of July weekend started off right, Paramount Pictures announced today that they will open Transformers Dark of the Moon on June 28th at 9PM for an exclusive engagement at 3D and IMAX locations across the country. The movie is still set for a 12:00 AM June 29th opening in 2D locations.

This is similar to the recently released Super 8 (also from Steven Speilberg).

Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Paramount is low-balling the opening weekend figures to $150 Million, including 2D, 3D, and IMAX showings.

By comparison, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen, which was only available in 2D and IMAX, grossed $200 Million in five days, versus the seven days of tickets sales that Dark of the Moon will be able to leverage.

Full press release below.

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PRESS RELEASE

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Pictures announced today it will open Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON exclusively at 3D and IMAX locations across the country beginning at 9PM local time on Tuesday, June 28th, allowing moviegoers nationwide to be among the first to see the latest installment in the hit franchise, and the first to be shot in 3D. The movie will open wide beginning at 12AM on June 29th.

"Michael Bay has created an incredibly engaging and immersive 3D experience with this latest movie, one that will undoubtedly be among the most entertaining movie going experiences of the summer," said Paramount's Vice Chairman Rob Moore. "Providing fans an opportunity to see it early in 3D is a great way to kick off the movie's opening."

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON is directed by Michael Bay, written by Ehren Kruger and produced by Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. The executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. When a mysterious event from Earth's past erupts into the present day it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us. The movie stars Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, Kevin Dunn, Julie White with John Malkovich and Frances McDormand.

© 2011 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.

© 2011 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

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About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Paramount Television & Digital Distribution.

SOURCE Paramount Pictures Corporation